Does beer really make you fat? If I ate a low fat diet or was a vegan and drank pints every day would I get a beer belly?

F Gillies, London, England

Reputable research has suggested that it is the quality and quantity of food eaten after the beer consumption which results in the beer belly. Beer does not contain fat, but it has bulk, which stretches the stomach lining, and it contains sugar

John Cammish, London

The local loading of all that beer stretches the stomach muscles giving the characteristic 'beer belly' shape; irrespective of its load of calories.

Peter Brooke, By Kinmuck Scotland

Beer alone would not make you fat unless you drank gallons of it. Three pints of beer are roughly the same calories as one bar of Chocolate!

Jim McDonnell, Chorley Lancs

The stomach is situated just below the diaphragm and nearer the spine than the sturnum. The enlarging occurs from an accumulation of fat over the intestines coupled with a loss of tone of the abdominal muscles. I know several people with a b-b who have drunk very little beer.

Richard Avery, Salisbury England

A true "beer belly" is not just about fat, it is a sagging/stretching deformation due to a person regularly filling it with too much liquid (a water belly would be just as possible).
However, "beer belly" is often simply used to refer to mean someone who has put on weight (ie fat) from drinking too much beer.
This is not a myth, a pint of beer contains about 400 calories, so three pints is about half of the calories (2500) a man in a sedentary job uses per day. That is, it would be difficult to keep below 2500 calories if you are drinking three pints a day, even with an otherwise "slimming" diet.
Example: To put on a pound of fat you need to eat 3500 calories more than you use up, ie to drink about nine pints of beer on top of an otherwise sufficent diet.

Chris Jones, Sheffield, Yorkshire

Any alcoholic drink will make you fat if you eat food at the same time as the alcohol affects your body's ability to metabolise calories (causing them to be stored as fat rather than glycogen in the liver), however as beer has a high associated calorific content (compared to other alcoholic drinks) it will make you fatter than other drinks. Combine with that the relationship between alcohol use and lack of exercise and you have a beer belly on it's way.

Glen Smeaton, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The calories in beer can be converted to fat by an effect known as Hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Also if there is any fat in the diet it can be stored since the sugars in the beer give the energy for the individual and so the fat is not needed.

Carl, Leyland, Lancashire

Is this a serious discussion, really? WTF

Greg Willogby, Riedsville, USA

The biggest problems with any alcoholic beverages is 1) when you consume them and 2) what you consume with them. Your body will naturally burn alcohol before either fat or glycogen so consider the effects of having a big meal while consuming several alcoholic beverages. Now take into account that *most* people drink in the evenings or night when your body doesn't have the opportunity to burn off all those empty calories and at 65-75 calories per oz a couple drinks in the evening can really hit that waistline.
Since its predominantly a social faux pas to go out on the piss in the morning (and will probably lose you your job unless you work the red eye) you might want to at least watch WHAT you eat when you drink and how much you consume when you do.
P.S. Last note would be not to drink on an empty stomach either as that more often than not will end you up in more trouble than it's worth!

Trevor, Tokyo, Japan

Everybody from England and Europe provide awesome answers and suggestions and the one person from the US wrote what you see above. How typical.

George Christoy, Larnaka, Cyprus

I was enjoying reading everyone's responses until the prick at the bottom had to bash the USA. One person making a stupid comment doesn't indicate the intellect of a whole fucking country. We have plenty of idiots here, but your country has them too

Ken B., Chicago, US

Ken B from Chigago. I think I know what you're trying to say, but you haven't exactly painted a good picture of the US. Be more constructive, and tone down the language please. I have a couple of American friends, and they're great.

Jack , London, UK

What a bunch of bullshit, my beer has 95 calories per 12Oz.

Gil carpenter, Chattanooga, US

Great information. On behalf of the United States I give my sincere apologies for the coarse language and uncouth demeanour of my countrymen. Way to make us look like a bunch of flag-waving troglodytes!
I found this article while trying to figure out why I can't shake my gut; I eat a fairly healthy vegetarian diet and bike to and from work. My wife says it is the 2-3 beers a day that I consume. I think I may look into switching to spirits or abstaining completely until I get a bit trimmer! Thanks.

Kevin Loss, Wichita, US

This discussion is really quite pointless. Everybody knows that a beer belly is caused by the beer bugs... What else do you think it is that comes up in the bubbles? Once you've swallowed your beer, these beer bugs attack the lining of your stomach and force it to settle outwards, giving you what is know as a "beer belly". You can avoid the beer bugs, by drinking wine. Wine only includes the wine fairies, these just make you a woman. For a man to drink wine, the ultimate effect is that eventually you will develop a vagina. Moreover, spirits will not do you much harm, unless you encounter the spirit snake which causes you to loose your memory and is related to some cases of alzheimers disease. So the moral of the story is to not drink unless you're a woman drinking wine. This is fine.

Harry Brickwood, Portsmouth UK

I drink 8 to 12 beers everyday nothing over 96 cal. I eat 2 lean pockets any variety after drinking. I workout one time a day and rollerblade every other day. I went from 210 pounds to 180 in 6 wks and still losing I have lost 4 inches from my waist. Beer does not cause you to get fat, and f wine thats for a fact. Stop eating burgers and fries.. And eat lean then burn that shit off the next day don't just lay there. These guys giving us advise don't even drink. So just diet and workout and drink whatever you want except wine!!!!

john dlc, harlingen us

Aww man, but i love my beer :(

Jade Willow, LA US

Wow! i actually googled "does beer make you fat" as a way to educate myself a little bit more. All the answers are amazing, even the ones with the cursing (they made me laugh), you need a mix of everything to balance it out ya know. Anyway, I agree with the working out and the eating healthy...its the best way to not even think about googling "does beer make you fat," (that was me, i googled it). I will keep drinking beer...don't be mean with wine...its a good resource when it comes to dates (i look a the wine glass and hope it was a guiness). Thanks for the info and the highly developed and medical answers on the top.

Raudel Enrique, San Diego, CA USA

I am a heavy drinker. I am asian. I eat a lot of food. I have no beer belly. So i guess it depends on the person.

Steve Lee, Sacramento, CA USA

Well the general rule is if u consume more calories than you burn you put on weight. Do the math n u will be fine.
Cardio 4 to 5 times a week will do wonders and you wouldnt feel guilty in treating your self to the good ol'pint.
I love beer, Cheers!!!

Lourenco Salvador, Goa India

All this talk about beer is making me thirsty. I'm on my way to the convenience store.

John, Toronto Canada

Great topic! I lost 28lbs last year by cutting out 'high fat' foods and exercising. Did not reduce my beer intake. Still need to loose more so might cut out beer for a month to see if it helps!

John Tuffin, Bedford England

I don't want to have to give up drinking just to loose weight, but I know so many alcoholics that are in top shape.

Shannon Long, Nürnberg Germany

I think the theory of beer and the belly seem to be true. I'm still looking for any proven answer and the above answers seem to be persuasive. Harry's (from Portsmouth UK) is the most funny!

Douglas Ringo, Mombasa Kenya

I drink on weekends and used to drink when I felt like it, but never everyday. Eating and drinking at the same time always stretches my belly. Eating too many snacks after drinking is not good either. Drink about two good beers, don't eat too much, and workout daily even if it is only a few minutes. Some exercise is always better than none. Rationing your food and drinks and ALWAYS pushing yourself to exercise will slowly but surely make a difference!!!

Marcus Minor, Washington, DC, US

Reading some of these answers is making me lmao. That in itself is exercise right there as I'm burning calories. Now, time to crack open an ice cold corona.

Sean, Los Angeles, USA

I appreciate all the information everybody gave!! I am 5'2 and 130 lbs. I've never been at this weight. By reading all the post Im just going to cut my evening calories (but not my beer lol) and step up my activity. Thanks

Cynthia, Elysian fields USA

Guys it depends on the person and the food. I knew guys they drink a lot but no belly and others they have because they don't eat heavy food after drinking.
Cheers mates

Ahmed, Kuwait

Hey everyone. Coming from experience, I drink beer everyday. But I also run for 30 mins everyday as well. Just stay active, and eat something healthy before hand. I for one don't like to drink at night (although I do on occasion). I lost 30lbs in 3months because I decided to run and cut out the pizzas and burgers. But I never cut out beer, lol... I'm sure everyone is different, but this worked for me!! I see a "beer belly" as more of an "inactive belly"... stay active!!!

Abe, McAllen, TX, US

Okay beer is full of carbohydrates so any excess will be turned into fat. So simply too many beers equals too much carbohydrates that if your body can't use will be turned into fat. Good explanation from down South.

John, Adelaide Australia

I am a female who eats a very healthy diet and exercises several times a week lifting weights with some cardio. I love my beer and drink every weekend in the winter and could drink several a day in the summer. I stick with Coors Light which contains 210 calories. I DO NOT have a beer belly...not even close. 5 ft 3 weighing 128 pounds with a lean waist. It`s what you eat, drink and your lifestyle that make you fat...fat tends to go to everyones belly more, so anyone can have a "beer belly" even if they abstain from alcohol if they eat a lot and lay around.

Suzy B, T.O. Canada

People who think you don't get fat from drinking beer are in self denial. 1 pint is like having an egg and bacon sandwich and fry's. If you must drink try scotch and water. If you continue to drink as much when you were 20 years old you will be a blimp by 40 and a beached whale by 60.

Andrew, Melbourne Australia

For what it's worth I'm 50 years old, drink beer or wine most days and do not have a beer belly. In fact I have a discernible six pack!
I do high intensity weight training (HIT) once or twice a fortnight and don't eat processed foods (cakes, sweets, crisps, ready meals etc.).
Prior to adopting this exercise and diet regime (five years ago) I was moderately over-weight and had a discernible beer belly.

Michael , London England

From personal experience. Calories are calories, but alcohol is more so. First, shot of alcohol is roughly the same as can of beer. It is a decent amount of calories. About 110 lets say. So four cans a beer/shots is same as a moderate hamburger. Sadly, alcohol makes you hungry so you go eat afterwards = extra calories and while the alcohol affects the liver to make it burn first, those extra calories turn into PURE fat via another process the liver uses while intoxicated. So if you drink, never eat afterwards for eight hours and do not eat a big meal before or with drinking. Also you must exercise to burn off those extra calories. Remember, pure alcohol still has high calories (burned as fuel in some cars) plus it shuts down your liver while it recovers so any food consumed during drinking is converted to all fat. Genetics some people have a lot of fat storage around waist which makes it worst.

Jeff, C.B. USA

Does it affect my butt? Or just belly?

Duong Tong, Bien Hoa City Vietnam

Beer is gud for you.

Jason Pason, London, UK

I drink a lot of beer. I'm female, 5ft 6", and weigh 130lbs. Just don't be lazy, eat right, and work out. But the again, everyone's body's are different.

Bbmomma, Calgary, Canada

I think it depends on the person, I have friends who play soccer but drink a lot of beer also and they are always fit. Not my case though, if I drink beer a couple a days, my belly starts to grow.

Boris Karloff, Panama City, Panama

Calories do not cause weight gain this is a myth only foods that raise blood sugar levels resulting in an insulin response can add on extra fat the correct term is a wheat belly from a poor diet.

Steve, Cheltenham, England

Great answers! I agree it depends on the time of day, which most people generally drink beer in the evenings after a long day of work, or exercise, etc. with the addition of food.
Now you're screwed, because you're most likely going straight home to relax & go to sleep. I changed my lifestyle a bit to resolve this... I work hard, play hard (only socially drinking), come home relax a bit while I get ready to hit the gym, I walk to the gym & back to take care of the Cardio Training, which my Resistance Training is done while at the gym, hit the hay once back home without a protein shake till morning. Note: 1 or 2 glasses of Red Wine is a healthier alternative to the Beer.